PARKERSBURG – The Parkersburg Utility Board is flow-testing fire hydrants this week, a process that may result in discolored water for customers in the affected areas.

Testing began Monday and will continue through Friday. The affected areas are:

* Today – Seventh Avenue at Broadway and Olive Street, Broadway at Camden, Fern at Sixth Avenue.

* Thursday – Division Street at Sixth, Seventh and 10th avenues and Gladstone and Fern streets.

* Friday – Sixth Avenue at Buckeye and Kanawha streets, Hawthorne Street at Eighth Avenue, Camden Avenue at Kanawha Street

Testing, which consists of hydrants being flushed for several minutes, will start each day around 9:30 a.m. The process is necessary to determine the amount of water that can be safely accessed from a hydrant during firefighting events.

If customers experience discolored water, they are advised to flush their system through a cold-water tap at a bathtub or utility sink. If the water does not clear within a few minutes, they are asked to contact the utility board at 304-424-8535 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or 304-424-8532 after 4:30.